Can you imagine? A time when we were not that familiar with soy sauce. That has now definitely changed. After the enormous popularity of various sushi restaurants, the use of soy sauce has become an indispensable part of our culinary life. In this blog we would like to tell you more about its origin and our chefs will as well share a delicious recipe that uses soy sauce.
The history of soy sauce
Although it is often thought that soy sauce comes from Japan, its origin can actually be found in China. In the past, all the equipment with which we can extend the shelf life of products did not yet exist. That is why products were often stored in salt in order to increase the lifespan. The flavors released from a certain combination with salt were known in China as seasonings under the name jiang. Ultimately, soybeans were used for the production of jiang products, because they are relatively easy to harvest. The Japanese variant may have arisen due to the presence of Chinese monks in Japan and their vegan lifestyle.
Why is soy sauce so delectable?
Soy sauce makes such a delicious addition to dishes because it belongs in the fifth taste category ‘umami’. Umami also means ‘delicious’ and that says it all. Products in this flavor category often have a taste that can be described as savory. Think, for example, of ripe tomatoes, aged cheese, sardines, truffles and mushrooms.
Umami is an essential part of Asian cuisine; it provides a powerful taste sensation. Some famous chefs even consider it an essential part of life.
Many people find it difficult to explain the taste with words and that’s why we have a nice test for you. Use a ripe tomato (an unripe tomato contains little to no umami), cut off a piece and chew it. After about half a minute, you will experience that the taste of the ripe tomato changes. And that taste? That’s umami!
A recipe from the chef!
As promised, we would also like to introduce you to a dish that includes soy sauce. Our chefs are happy to share their recipe for delicious fried ground bean shrimp!
What do you need?
- 300 grams of shrimp
- 10 grams ginger
- 1.5 tbsp soy sauce
- 10 grams of garlic
- 10 grams of wine
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3.5 tbsp ground bean sauce
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 10 grams spring onion
- Salty
- Pepper
The steps:
- Step 1
Cut the spring onion, ginger and garlic into small pieces. Soak the shrimps in salted water and clean them.
- Step 2
Put the shrimps in a bowl with soy sauce and pepper and let them marinate for 10 minutes.
- Step 3
Put a pan on the stove and put the oil with the shrimps in it. Fry them until both sides have changed color. Save the shrimp for later use.
- Step 4
Put the spring onion, ginger, garlic, tomato paste, and ground bean sauce in the pan with some oil and stir fry for two minutes. Add the shrimp, a little water, and stir-fry until the shrimp are completely covered in the sauce. Ready to serve!
Don’t have a bottle of soy sauce yet? You can order soy sauce at a competitive price via Asian Gmarket. Extra fun! If you have previously ordered food via Hanting Delivery, you have saved up shopping credit. You can now also use this shopping credit for a discount on your Asian Gmarket order!
